The Spartans finished 7-6 with an offense that ranked among the worst in the nation. The defense, however, was one of the best in America.

“We ask everybody individually to try to overachieve and then as a defense our expectations are that high,” Michigan State defensive coordinator Mike Tressel said Saturday at the Radisson Hotel after speaking during the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association’s annual clinic. “Because if we get the individuals to overachieve, then our defense as a whole will hopefully perform like we did.”

Led by a group that finished in the top 10 in the nation against the run and in total defense, Michigan State finished a resurgent 2017 season with a 10-3 record. Two starters departed from that defense and the Spartans improved in both rushing defense and points allowed. They finished first in the nation against the run (77.9 yards per game), eighth in scoring defense (17.2) and 10th in total defense (303.2).

“I do think that this defense, the defense we had this year, is as good as we’ve had probably in terms of running the football, we were good in the back end too and points and things of that nature,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said Friday. “So, pretty good.”

So, what does that mean for 2019? The Spartans will move forward after losing a trio of starters. Linebacker Andrew Dowell and safety Khari Willis were both seniors this season while cornerback Justin Layne left for the NFL draft after his junior year. Additionally, Michigan State lost veteran depth to expired eligibility in defensive tackle Gerald Owens, linebackers Jon Reschke, Byron Bullough and Grayson Miller and safety Matt Morrissey.

The Spartans did receive good news with decisions that a handful of starters – defensive tackles Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk, defensive end Kenny Willekes, middle linebacker Joe Bachie and safety David Dowell – are all returning for their senior seasons instead of leaving for the NFL.

“It’s also great to see guys that had the option of leaving come back because that tells you they have confidence in how we’ll be as a program – not just as a defense, they have confidence in how we’ll be as a program,” Tressel said. “When a whole group of them come back like that, you also know now that you have kids that are concerned about their brothers and not just about themselves and that’s key.”

Michigan State already got a glimpse of what it needs to do to replace Layne at the starting cornerback spot opposite sophomore Josiah Scott. He skipped the 7-6 Redbox Bowl loss to Oregon on Dec. 31 after declaring for the draft and Josh Butler took his place. The redshirt junior missed seven games due to injury this season but also made five starts – four while Scott was sidelined for the first eight games due to a torn meniscus – and finished the season with 10 tackles and three pass break-ups.

“It was great to see the Josh Butlers and people like that play as well as they did in the bowl game,” Tressel said. “The confidence is there that ‘OK, Justin left and good for him, but we’re going to be just fine.’”

Andrew Dowell was a three-year starter at weak-side linebacker and the lone starting departure from a dominant front seven. His likely replacement is sophomore Antjuan Simmons, who appeared in all 26 games the last two seasons and had 66 total tackles with one interception.

“Antjuan Simmons is a great player and he’s got to step up his game,” Tressel said. “That’s what college is about. You’ve got guys for four years and then the next guys need to step up.”

The Spartans won’t have as much experience when they look to replace Willis, a two-year starter who was a co-captain this season. Xavier Henderson was an early enrollee in the 2018 recruiting class and the only true freshman who played all 13 games this season. He finished with 15 tackles and fumble recovery.

“In the back end, not just having someone step up to replace Khari’s play on the field, but his leadership is certainly a challenge,” Tressel said. “Because if you look at the depth chart, Morrissey was the one right behind him, so you need a guy like Xavier to step up and he’s got great football knowledge and he’s a real smart kid.

“You’ve got to bring it to the next level because Khari’s level was a high level in terms of play and football IQ. That will be certainly one we’re looking at closely – got to have guys step up there.”

This season marked the fourth time in Dantonio’s 12 years with the program Michigan State finished in the top 10 in the nation in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense. The previous times that was accomplished came in a three-year stretch from 2011-13, capped by a season in which the Spartans won the Rose Bowl to finish 13-1. That began a three-year run in which they compiled a record of 36-5 while winning a pair of Big Ten titles and reaching the College Football Playoff.

“We just want to get better,” Dantonio said of the defense’s potential in 2019. “I think the main thing is we’re always trying to get better and trying to improve to some degree. When we were 13-1 at the Rose Bowl, we were trying to get a little bit better and get to the playoffs. We didn’t – we almost did – and the following year we did.”